Degree Requirements

Doctor of Musical Arts: Piano Performance and Pedagogy

Program of Study (20 units)

  • PIANO 561 Applied Piano (6 units)
  • PIANO 340 Recital Hour (0 units but registration required each quarter)
  • Pedagogy Coursework (5 units)
    PIANO 415-1
    PIANO 415-2
    PIANO 415-3
    PIANO 420
    PIANO 459
  • MUSIC 540 Doctoral Music Research (1 unit; offered in fall quarter)
  • MUSICOL 400 Graduate Review of History (1 unit, offered in winter quarter)
  • MUS THEORY Coursework (1 unit)
    To cover the Music Theory coursework requirement, one of the following courses must be taken*:
    MUS_THRY 316 16th Century Counterpoint (fall)
    MUS_THRY 435 Theory of Melody (winter)
    MUS_THRY 355 Post Tonal Analysis (winter)
    MUS_THRY 318 18th Century Counterpoint (spring)
    MUS_THRY 435 Advanced Tonal Analysis/Analysis of 19th Century Music (spring)
  • Electives in Music Studies, 300-level or above (2 units)
  • Electives in Music, 300-level or above (2 units)
  • PIANO 580 Recital (0 units; 4 registrations required)
  • PIANO 583 Final Pedagogy Workshop (0 units)
  • PIANO 585 Lecture/Recital (1 unit)
  • PIANO 595 Final Project Requirement (1 unit)

Recitals

Four recitals are required. The final recital is a full-length program (60 to 75 minutes) of solo literature from various periods. Learn more about DMA Recital Requirements

Qualifying Examination

*If three courses are taken out of the four courses for the Music Theory Requirement, DMA students will have the option to waive the theory qualifying examination. Students must receive a grade of “B” or higher in each of the three courses to achieve the exemption. Learn more about DMA Qualifying Examinations

Final Project Requirement

Learn about DMA Final Project Requirements

Download Degree Checklist

Questions?

Contact Graduate Services: 
musicgradservices@northwestern.edu 
847-491-5740